WorldChicago is pleased to announce that our 2012 Annual Report is now available. Click here to read up on our exciting year, due in large part to all of you, our supportive WorldChicago Citizen Diplomats! Thank you for all of your support of Citizen Diplomacy in Chicago as members, donors, partners, professional hosts, hospitality hosts, homestay hosts, event attendees, in-office support and much, much more!

(inside by the ground-floor concierge desk, where you'll see our Tour Guide with a "Chicago Chocolate Tours" banner)

Join WorldChicago as our Young Internationals recognize March as Women's History Month!

We are excited to participate in a customized walking tour led by woman-owned, Chicago Chocolate Tours! Enjoy our customized tasting tour including visits and samples from women-owned local "sweet treat" businesses as well as a Belgian chocolatier too! Chicago Chocolate Tours will also give each participate MORE chocolate with a very special WorldChicago sampler of international chocolate delights. The tour will conclude at Argo Tea.

Special Notes: The tour will take place rain, snow, or shine because chocolate tastes great in all weather! You can bring or buy water if you like, and please feel free to wear comfortable shoes and clothing for this walking and tasting tour.

WorldChicago will host a public forum for 4 U.S. Department of State delegates from India who will be in the U.S. to study successful models of social entrepreneurship, and how innovation can drive positive social and environmental change. As founders and directors of their own social entrepreneurship businesses in India, they will speak about their experiences developing and managing these projects, and the rise of social entrepreneurs in the Indian context. Q & A to follow. Continental breakfast will be provided.

Writer and Reporter, ESPN.com and ESPN; Adjunct Instructor at Northwestern's Medill School of Journalism

Lester Munson is a writer and reporter at ESPN.com and ESPN who specializes in legal affairs and investigations. For 23 years, he has reported on money, celebrity, violence, sex, drugs, race, gender, greed, litigation, court decisions and government actions in the sports industry. His recent assignments include the National Hockey League lockout; the concussion crisis in the National Football League; the bounty scandal in the NFL; the Penn State scandals; and, the steroids investigations and trials of Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds, and Lance Armstrong. From 1991 to 2004, he was on the staff of Sports Illustrated. He appears frequently on National Public Radio and WTTW, the Chicago affiliate of the Public Broadcasting System. He has received several awards in journalism, and his work has appeared in the series, "Best American Sportswriting." He is an adjunct instructor at the Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism. He is a graduate of Princeton University and The University of Chicago Law School. His wife, Judith, is the executive director of the International Collaborative for Public Health Emergency Preparedness and has devoted her legal career to public health issues on the local, state, federal, and international levels. Lester and Judith live in Chicago and are WorldChicago hospitality hosts.

The following professional program participants are in meetings or internships all day during the week, spending time with host families primarily during evenings and weekends.

Legislative Fellows: Eastern EuropeApril 4- May 83 young professionals from Armenia, Georgia and Moldova will have public policy fellowships

Legislative Fellows: South & Central AsiaApril 14-May 84 young professionals from South and Central Asia will have public policy fellowshipsCommunity Connections Program: BelarusApril 10-May 110 mid-career professionals will explore topics on strengthening NGO capacity through new technology

Open World Program: TurkmenistanApril 24-May 25 Civic leaders will be in Chicago exploring transportation managementEmpower Access Fellows ProgramApril 26-May 214 fellows from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, and Tajikistan will explore issues related to working with people with disabilities

Description: This U.S. Department of State program identifies foreign leaders in a variety of fields to visit the U.S. for 3 weeks (visiting 3-5 cities) to meet their professional counterparts, explore their thematic interest area(s), and experience America firsthand. These visitors stay in hotels.

This is a list of upcoming international delegations visiting Chicago through the International Visitor Leadership Program.

Japan-Trade & Investment-February 20-23

Russia- Teacher Unions- February 23-27

Africa Regional Project- International Crime Prevention- March 2-6

If interested in learning more about any of these programs, please contact John Baum at jbaum@worldchicago.org or (312) 254-1800 x100.

MEAL HOSTING OPPORTUNITIES

International Visitor Leadership Program:

WorldChicago seeks in-home meal hospitality for a 2-4 person delegation of educators from Russia, for the night of Monday, February 25th. If interested, please contact John Baum at jbaum@worldchicago.org or (312) 254-1800 x100.